APRA & PPCA

APRA and PPCA

On behalf of all affiliated clubs, Gymnastics Australia has purchased and provides a license for both the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA).

Music licences

Music, lyrics and sound recordings are all separately protected by copyright and require permission to be played in public settings. Music played on CD or tape outside the domestic or private environment is a performance "in public". A gymnastics club is considered to be a public setting.

All clubs, who play copyright music, need permission from the copyright owners to do so. Permission is provided in the form of licenses provided by the Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA) and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA).

Who is APRA?

APRA is a not-for-profit organisation that collects and distributes copyright royalties for composers, lyricists and music publishers. It issues licenses for the public performance and communication rights for copyright owners of musical works.

Who is the PPCA?

PPCA collects and distributes copyright royalties for recording artists and copyright owners in sound recordings (usually record companies). It issues licences for the public performances and broadcast of copyright protected sound recordings.

What is the difference between APRA and the PPCA and why do gymnastics clubs require both licences?

There are at least two copyrights in every sound recording:-

1. A copyright in the sound recording of the recorded performance (i.e. - your local band going
to a music label (i.e. EMI) and getting their music recorded onto CD).

2. A copyright in the song (i.e. - the composition of the music and lyrics by the band). Therefore the PPCA grants licenses in respect of the recording copyrights and APRA grants licences in respect of the music composers and publishers. Without blanket licences, gymnastics clubs would be required to obtain a licence from each copyright owner whose music they wish to play.